Machine for making laminated pinions



May 28, 1940.

w. 1.. HANSEN El AL MACHINE FOR MAKING LAMINATED PINIONS Filed Feb.17,1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 28, 1940. I w. L. HANSEN ET AL MACHINE FORMAKING LAMINATED PI NIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 s Y s m W N R. 5 T R 0 NS 0 7A R v g T MHu Jr 7 H A m M .3 u? um i n W 5 22.25 E Q2 I 0 m8 5 E May28,1940. w. HANSEN El AL MACHINE FOR MAKING LAMINATED PINIONS 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 17, 1938 Euscrc,

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4 IN v5 N TOR-3 W/L LIAM L HA/VJEN By IRA N. HURST SWQ VMJTSM-QvwATTORNEYS 7 May 28, 1940. w. L. HANSEN El AL .MACHINE FOR MAKINGLAMINATED PINIONS Filed Feb. 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @HAAA FIG-l0-ZVIIAFIIAZVI 6 5 //v VENTORS WILLIAM L. HANSL'N IRA /V. HuRsT- ATTORNEYS Patented May 28, 1940 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MAKINGLAIVHNATED PINIONS William L. Hansen and Ira N. Hurst, Princeton, Ind.,assignors to Hansen Mfg. Company, Inc., Princeton, Ind., a corporationof Indiana Application February 1'7, 1938, Serial No. 191,016 18 Claims.(01.29-34) This invention relates to gear-making machinery, and inparticular, to machines for manufacturing laminated gears andpinions.

One object of this invention is to provide a laminated pinion-makingmachine, wherein a compound die is provided for punching both the 7 holeand the teeth at a single stroke, multiple punchings being receivedwithin the die, wherein these multiple punchings are placed upon thepinion shaft While they are still in the die.

Another object is to provide such a machine, wherein a strip of materialis automatically fed through the machine, the die and strip of materialbeing staggered relatively to each other dur- 5 ing the feedingoperation so as to enable the use of a broad strip of material fromwhich a double row of pinion punchings is obtained, without thenecessity of running the strip through the machine more than once.

Another object is to provide a compound die machine for making laminatedpinions, wherein a strip of pinion-making-material is fed through themachine step-by-step in response to the action of the die in punchingout the laminated pinion portions.

Another object is to provide such a machine, wherein a multiplicity oflaminated pinion portions is punched into the die at one station,whereupon the die is shifted to another station,

where the pinion shaft is inserted in the pinion portions. 1

Another object is to provide a machine as set forth immediately above,wherein the die is moved to a third station, where the laminated pinionnow mounted on its shaft is ejected from the die. I

Another object is to provide a method of making laminated pinionscomprising punching the laminations from a moving strip of material soas to simultaneously form the pinion teeth and shaft, stacking theselaminations within the die and then simultaneously uniting all of thelaminations while they are still within the die by pressing a pinionshaft through the aligned holes of the laminations as held in positionby the die.

Another object is to provide a compound die machine for making laminatedpinions, wherein the die is moved successively into a plurality ofstations, a cam being provided to actuate the parts of the diedifferently at each station so that at the first station the die punchesout a pinion lamination; at the second station it mounts the stack ofassembled laminations'upon a pinion 55 shaft; and at the third stationejects this assembly, consisting of the laminated pinion portionsmounted upon a pinion shaft.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the laminated pinion-making machine ofthis invention. 5 Figure 2 is a top plan view of the bottom portion ofthe machine with the upper portion of Figure 1 removed. 1

Figure 3 is a vertical section along the line 33 of Figure 2, showingthe holder for the pin- 10 ion shafts.

Figure 4 is a verticalsection along the line 44 in Figure 2, showing thepunch and stripper construction of the machine.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the upper por- 15 tion of thelaminated pinion-making machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a vertical section along the irregular line 66 in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail view of the com- 20 pound upper die ofFigures 10 to 13, inclusive, showing the means for preventing rotationof the die sleeve surrounding the punch for punching the shaft holes inthe pinion laminations.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the cam for 2 selectively controllingthe different actions of the upper compound die shown in Figures 10 to13.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the cam shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is alay-out development of the cam 0' shown in Figures 8 and9, with the upper compound die shown in its three successive positionsof punching, staking and ejecting the pinions.

Figure 11 is a central vertical section through the upper compound dieand. cam portion, show- 35 ing these parts in position for the punchingoperation.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, but showing the parts inposition for a staking operation, wherein the pinion shaft is pressedthrough 0 a the pinion laminations.

Figure 13 is a View similar to Figures 11 and 12, but showing the partsin position for an ejecting operation. a

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail elevation of the ratchet stop deviceforthe feeding mechanism, taken along the line I l-I4 in Figure 2.

"Figure 15 is a view taken along the-line Iii-l5- in- Figure 14. I

Figure 16 is a vertical section taken along the 50 irregular linel6-l6jin Figure 2, showing de-' tails of the strip-feeding mechanism.

Figure 17 is a vertical. cross section, through the feeding mechanism,taken along the line ll-'ll in Figure 2.

of a completed laminated pinion, with the laminations in position uponthe pinion shaft.

General construction In general, the laminated pinion-making machine ofthis invention consists of a base which carries the punch for punchingout the pinion laminations. This base also carries feeding mechanism forautomatically feeding a strip of pinion material past the punch, and atthe same time staggering the material relatively to the punch so thatthe punchings are made in two rows within the material. This featureenables the use of a broad strip of pinion material, the handling of aboard strip being considerably simpler than that of a narrow strip. Atthe same time, it eliminates the necessity of running the broad striptwice through the machine. The upper portion of the machine is attachedto the platen of a press, and moves up and down, carrying with it thecompound. die which cooperates with the punch to produce the pinionlaminations.

This compound die consists of a sleeve movable relatively to the diecasing and containing a punch for punching out the shaft hole in thepinion laminations. The sleeve is movable upwardly within the diecasing'as additional pinion laminations are punched and received withinthe die casing. The die casing and die are mounted within a head whichmay be swung into three successive stations, namely, the punchingstation where a stack of laminations is punched into the die casing,thence to the staking station, where a pinion shaft is pressed into thestacked pinion laminations, and finally into an ejecting station, wherethe assembled pinion and its shaft are ejected from the machine.

Base and punch construction The machine consists broadly of twoportions, as shown in Figure 1. The lower half of the machine consistsof a base portion having a pair of uprights, upon which the upper halfof the machine moves up and down. The base portion Ill (Figures 1 and 2)is provided with a pinion holder II secured to the front thereof, as bythe set screws I2, and having a chute I3 for direct-- ing the finishedpinions into the holder I I as they fall from the die in the ejectingposition. The holder I I is removably mounted upon the set screws 6 2 bymeans of the enlarged hole and slot construction shown at I4 and I5,respectively, in Figure 1. Thus by lifting the holder II the enlargedholes I4 may be raised to the level of the set screws I2, whereupon theholder II can be withdrawn from the machine. 1

Likewisemounted upon the base II) is a shaft holder, generallydesignated I6, and consisting of a flange I1 and an upright portion I8,having a movable tubular member I9 reciprocable within a bore 20 therein(Figure 3). The shaft holder I6 is secured to the base ID by means ofset screws 2|, in position directly over a recess 22 within which ismounted a coil spring 23, one end of which engages the bottom 24 of therecess 22 while the other end engages and urges upwardly the flangedportion 25 on the lower end of the tubular member I9. In this manner thetubular member I9 is yieldingly urged in an upward direction within theupper portion I8 of the shaft holder Hi. The tubular member I9 isprovided with a central bore 26 for receiving the pinion shaft so as tohold it in position until the staking or shaft-inserting operation iscompleted. For supporting the lower end of the pinion shaft there isprovided a pin 21, the lower end of which is enlarged, as at 28 (Figure3), and rests upon the reduced portion 29 of a plug 30, threaded into athreaded hole 3| in the bottom of the base II! so that the reducedportion 29 extends upwardly through a hole 32 coaxial with the bore 26and pin 21.

The flange I1 is cut away, as at 33 (Figure 2), to provide space for thepunch unit, generally designated 34 (Figure 4). The punch unit 34consists of a punch 35 mounted within a bore 35 within an upstandingmember 31, the lower portion of which is flanged, as at 38, and securedto the base If! by the set screws 39. The lower end of the punch 35 isenlarged, as at 40, and fits within a corresponding enlargement 4| ofthe bore 36. The punch 35 is provided'with a tapered bore 42, the lowerend of which communicates with a bore 43 passing through the base I0,and providing for the escape of the punchingsproduced in makingthe-holes in the pinion lamina tions. The periphery of the punch 35 isprovided with multiple teeth 44 (Figure 2) for producing thecorresponding teeth upon the pinion laminations.

In order toexpel the pinion laminations from the punch 35, a strippingdevice 45 is provided consisting of a sleeve 45 encircling theupstanding portion of the member 31, and having a top flanged portion 41for engaging the strip of ma,- terial 4B. The stripping device 45 isurged upwardly into yielding engagement with the strip of material 48 bya coil spring 49, the upper end of which engages the flanged portion 41,and the lower end the flanged portion 38 of the upstanding member 31.The latter is threaded, as at 50,

to receive a collar 5| having a flange 52 for limiting the verticalmovement-of the strippingdevice 45, the latter having a cooperatingflange 53 for engagement with the flange 52 (Figure 4).

Likewise secured to thebase III, as by the countersunk screws53 is aplate 54 carrying a tapered safety locking pin. 55 (Figures 1 and 2)."

As will be hereinafter seen, the locking pin 55 enters acorrespondingbore in the upper portion of themachin e, therebypreventing the die from being closed upon the punch until the parts arein proper alignment. The plate 54 is properly located with respect tothe base ID by the dowel pins'56. V

- Feeding mechanism The feeding mechanism for feeding the-strip w boreBI in the base I I3, and limits the up and down motion of the shaft 51.Mounted, as at 52,

upon the shaft 51 is a swingable carriage 53 (Figure 16) having adovetailed longitudinal grooveway 64 arranged centrally therein (Figure17) to receive the longitudinal dovetailed rib 55 of the feeding slide66. Mounted uponthe feeding slide 55 is a feeding head 61 having twinbores68 for receiving pins 59, which pass downwardly through the bores15 in the slide 65 and through longitudinal slots 1| in the carriage 53,theends emerging withinhorizontal bores 12. within the carriage 63.

The bores 12 contain-,gspiral.i-springs 13, one endof eachhofwhichisattached, as at 1 4, to

a pin 89. The opposite end of each spring 13 is connected to the upperend of a set screw 15, threaded through the aperture 16 in the carriage63, and likewise through the aperture 11 in the s flanged head 18 of theshaft 51.

The head 18 is received Within a recess 19 beneath the carriage 63. Inthis manner the set screws 15 simultaneously secure the flanged head 18of the shaft 51 to the carriage 63, and serve as anchorages for the coilsprings 13. g

The feeding head 61 is provided with a downwardly projecting ridge 88within a groove 8I in the feeding slide 66, but spaced apart therefromslightly so as to form an aperture 82 of rectangular cross section forthe passage of the material strip 48. Secured by the set screw 83 to thefeeding head 61 are two feeding springs 84, bowed in oppositedirections, with their lower ends arranged to engage the upper surfaceof the material strip 48, as it lies in the bottom of the groove 8 I.The material strip 48 is pressed downwardly against the bottom of thegroove 8| by a flat spring 85 (Figure 16), secured by the set screw 86to the bridge 81, the latter being mounted on the uprights 88 of thecarriage 63.

Immediately beneath the bridge 81 in the carriage 63 is a chamber 89containing a transverse shaft 90, upon which is mounted a pawl 9|, Thelater is pressed by the flat spring 02 into engagement with the lowersurface of the material strip 48, thereby urging the latter intoengagement with the bridge 81. In this manner the material strip 48 ispermitted to move to the left (Figure 16), but prevented from movingrearwardly to the right. The flat spring 92 is secured by the set screw93 to the carriage 63. Mounted upon the upper side of the slide 66(Figure 16) is a bracket 94 carrying an axle. 95, upon which is mounteda roller 96. This roller 96 is engaged by a member mounted upon theupper part of the machine, as hereinafter described, for moving theslide 66 to the right against the tension of the coil springs 13 duringthe descent of the upper portion of the machine,

The swinging of the carriage 63 about its pivot shaft 51 is limited bystop screws 91 and 98, threaded into the opposite ends of abar 99,secured by the set screws I00 to the base I0 (figure 2). A flat springIllI urges the left-hand end of the carriage 63 toward the front of themachine. For accurately controlling the positions at which the carriage63 halts, a rotary stop mechanism is provided. This consists of an armI02, secured by the set screws I03 to the side of the carriage 63(Figures 1 and 2), and having its forward end I04 wedge-shaped (Figurel5) and adapted to engage either wedge-shaped stops I05 or the spaces orintervals I86 between them (Figure 14). The stops I05 are secured to therearward face of a ratchet wheel I01, mounted upon a stud I08, threadedwithin a bracket I08 and anchored inposition by the locknut H8 (Figure2). The bracket I09 is secured, as at III, to the base I0 (Figure 2). Asecond ratchet wheel II2 (Figures 1 and 2) is mounted adjacent the firstratchet wheel I01 and may be integral therewith. A spring pawl II3engages the second ratchet wheel H2 and prevents reverse rotation of thefirst-ratchet wheel I01.

To actuate the ratchet wheel I81 there is provided a spring pawl II4(Figure 1), mounted upon a vertical reciprocating rod H5, the lower endof which passes through a bore H6 in the base I8 and terminates inlanenlarged head II1 Within an enlarged bore II8. A .coil spring H9 urgesthe head H1 and rod II5 upwardly, and its lower end abuts against aplate I20, secured by the set screws I2l to the bottom of the base I0,thereby closing the bore enlargement II8. A key I22 projects upwardlyfrom the plate I28 and engages a keyway I23 in the head II1 to preventthe turning of the rod II5 as it reciprocates. The rod H5 isreciprocated by the up and down motion of the upper portion of themachine, as described hereinafter.

The material strip 48, on the opposite side of the punch 35 from thecarriage 63, passes through a hollow guide I24 mounted upon an arm I25secured, as at I26 (Figure 2) to the base I8. Also secured to thelatter, as by the set screws I21, is a holding box I28, which maycontain the shafts upon which the pinion laminations are later mounted.For limiting the reciprocation of the slide 66 relatively to thecarriage 63 there is provided an end bracket I29, secured as at I30 tothe end of the carriage 63, and having a stop screw I3I threaded throughthe upper end thereof, and held in place by locknuts I32 (Figures 1 and2) Upper die construction Mounted in the base I0 of the machine andrising therefrom are two posts I33, which pass through apertures I34 inbushings I35 (Figure 5), mounted in bores I36 passing through themovable support I31. The movable support I31 is in the form of a thickplate upon which is mounted an upwardly extending shaft I38, secured byits enlarged head I39 to the upper side of the movable support I31(Figures 1 and 6). Connection is made between the movable support I31and the platen of any suitable press by means of the shaft I38, whichenters a corresponding aperture in the platen and is clamped therein.

In this manner the movable support I31 is moved up and down with theplaten of the press and slides relatively to the vertical posts I33 andis uided thereby.

The movable support I31 is provided with a vertical bore I40 having abushing I4I therein for receiving the pivot shaft I42, extendingupwardly from the rotatable head I43. plate I44 is secured by the setscrew i 45 to the upper end of the pivot shaft I42, and rests within acountersink I46 in the upper surface of the movable support I31, beneaththe enlarged head I39 of the shaft I38 (Figure 6). An annular groove I41 is provided in the lower surface of the movable support I31, andreceives a fixed annular cam I48 secured thereto, as at I48. The cam I48is provided with arcuate ridges I58, I5I, I52 and I53, which determinethe selective action of the cam upon the die mechanism carried by thehead I43, and moved relatively to the cam I48.

Mounted in the bore I54 in the lower side of the head I43 is an upperdie, generally designated I55, and consisting of an outer sleeve I56having bores I51 and I58 of different diameters for receiving the upperand lower portions I59 and I60 of an inner sleeve, generally designatedI6I. The latter is provided with upper and lower inner bores I62 and I63of different diameters for supporting the head I64 and shank I65 of apunch, generally designated I66. The inner sleeve I6I is adapted toslide freely within the outer sleeve I56, and the punch I66 is likewiseadapted to slide freely within the inner sleeve I6I. The heights towhich these members can rise during the operation of the machine areregulated by A retaining the ridges I58 to I53 upon the fixed annularcam I58. The bore I58 within the outer sleeve I56 of the die I55 isformed with the cross section or" a pinion (Figure 5) so that itreceives the pinion laminations I 81 as they are punched from thematerial strip 28, and holds them by their frictional engagement withits walls. As the pile of pinion laminations accumulates the innersleeve IEI rises (Figure 11), but the punch I66 remains in the positionof Figure 11 for punching out the shaft holes in each lamination I61.

The upper die IE5 is surrounded by an annular member I68 having a notchI88 arranged to make way for a socket I18. A second socket I'II islikewise provided, spaced apart from the first socket I18 (Figure 5).The sockets I18 and I1! have tapered walls for receiving the taperedlocking pin 55. The latter merely serves to prevent the parts of theupper and lower dies from being closed before they are in properalignment, but the alignment itself is insured by an additional set ofstops I12 and I13 secured to the periphery of the head I 43. These stopscooperate with and respectively engage stop pins I14 and I15, mounted inthe upper support I31 (Figure 5).

Likewise mounted upon the rotatable head I43 are downwardly extendingpush rods I 16 and I 11. The push rod I18 is adapted to engage theroller 96 and reciprocate the slide 65 (Figures 1 and 16) during thedescent of the movable support I31, and is tapered at its lower end, asat I18, to facilitate this purpose. The push rod I11, however, engagesthe reciprocating rod H5, and reciprocates the latter so that its springpawl slides over the teeth of the ratchet I81 during the descent of themovable support I31 and engages the teeth thereof to move the ratchetI81 in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 1) as the rod H5 is 5 urgedupwardly by the coil spring H9 while'the movable support I31 rises withthe platen of the press.

Likewise secured to the periphery of the head MS, as by the set screwsI19, is a cam I88, the opposite ends I8! and I82 of which are adapted tobe engaged by one of the ends of a bellcrank I83, pivotally mounted onthe stop I84 secured to the movable support I31. The opposite ends ofthe bellcrank I83 carry pins I85 and I88, to

/ which are anchored the ends of the coil springs I and I88. The outerend of the coil spring 581 is anchored to the pin I89, mounted on themovable support I31, whereas the outer end of the spring I88 is securedto the set screw I98,

threaded into the outer end of the downwardly extending bracket I9I, theupper end of which is mounted upon the movable support I31 (Figures land 5). The motion of the bellcrank I83 is limited by the stop pin I92,likewise mounted in the movable support I31.

The head I43 is moved to and fro by a handle I93 into any one of threepositions, respectively designated A, B and C (Figure 5). The handle I88is provided with an extension I94, secured as at I85, to the lower sideof the head I43. Arranged within the bore I95 of the handle I93 is areciprocable pin I91, the outer end of which terminates in a button I88,secured thereto by the set screw I89 (Figure 5). A coil spring 288within an enlarged bore 251i urges the push button I88 and pin I81outwardly. The inner end of the push button 188 is received within arecess 282, formed in the annular head 203 of the handle I83. The innerend of the pin I91 engages the end of a T-shaped flat spring 284, theouter arms of which are secured by the plate 285 to the movable supportI31, the plate 285 itself being held in position by the screwsZDB(Figure 1) An abutment strip 281 engages the right-hand side of thespring 284 and is secured to the movable support I31 by the set screws288.

The handle I33 is formed so that its intermediate portion is providedwith a shouldered end 289 adjacent the periphery of the head M3, butspaced apart therefrom. Figure 5 is broken away in its upper portion todisclose the construction of this shouldered end 289. The latter isprovided with a slot in the form of a shoulder am, into which the lowerend of the flat spring- 284 snaps after it passes the curved sides ofthe shouldered end 289 (Figure 5). This structure serves as a detent orlatch which is released when the operator presses the push button I98and pin I81 inwardly to push the spring 284 out past the shoulder 28 8.In order to prevent rotation of the inner sleeve IBI of the die I55within the outer sleeve I58 thereof, these two sleeves are slotted as at2 and 2I2, respectively (Figure 7), to

receive a key-like finger 2I3 mounted by the set screw 2 I4 upon thelower side of the head I43.

Operation 3 The pinion-making machine of this invention is mounted withits base It upon the bed of a punch press, and with the shaft I38secured to the platen thereof in the manner previously described. Insetting up the machine the press platen is arranged to move a sufficientdistance such that the punch will enter the die I55, just far enough topunch the pinion lamination W1 completely out of the material strip 48.The latter is preferably in the form of aroll, and is wide enough topermit two rows of pinion laminations 81 to be punched therefrom as thestrip 58 moves under the die I56 and over the punch 35.

The feeding mechanism, operated in connection with the slide 88 upon thecarriage 63, is arranged so as to feed the material strip 48 forwardlyand stagger each punching on the strip as it moves under the die I56. Bythis arrangement the use of awider strip is facilitated, this wide stripbeing more easily handled and fed into he die than a narrow strip. Atthe same time the staggering of the punchings permits the maximum numberof pinion laminations I61 to be secured from the strip without waste ofmaterial and without the necessity of running the strip 48 twice throughthe machine.

In operating the machine the operator first places a. pinion shaft 2I5in the bore 26 within the shaft holder I3 (Figures 2 and 3). The handleI93 is then moved to position A (Figure 5), which is the punchingposition of the machine. When this occurs the head I43 rotates so as tobring the stop I12 into engagement with the stop pin I1 3. The sameaction causes the end I M of the cam I88 to move the bell-crank I83 ina. clockwise direction sothat its upper end slides along the top of thecam I88, and comes to rest against the cam end I82. The bellcrank I83,by reason of the placing of the springs I81 and I88, has a toggle actionso that both springs urge the end of the bellcrank against theparticular end I8I or I82 of the. cam I88, with which the bellcrank I83is then in engagement.

It will be observed from Figure 5 that in position B, for example, theend of the springI88, which is connected to the pin I86, is slightly toone side of the center of the pivot pin I84, thereby causing the pull ofthe spring I88 to be exerted with a leverage effect. The spring I81 atthe same time, by engaging the pin I85, exerts a considerable leverageupon the bellcrank I83 relatively to its pivot stop I84. Thus, when thehandle I93 has been shifted into its punching position A, the bellcrankI83 is urged against the end I82 of the cam I80, and the stop I12against the stop pin I14.

The material strip 48 is then threaded through the automatic feedingmechanism on theslide 66 of the carriage 63 and under the die I55, whichis then in coincidence with the punch 35. The operator then operates thepress so that its platen and the movable support I31 descend asufficient number of strokes, punching out a pinion lamination I61 ateach stroke. At this time the cam I48 and the die I55 are in thepositions shown in Figure 11, so that the arcuate ridge I53 engages thepunch I65 and forces it downwardly until its end is substantially flushwith the end of the outer sleeve -I56. The inner sleeve I6I is suitablyslotted to permit the passage of the ridge I53 as the head is rotated.Thus the upper'endv I59 of the inner sleeve I6I is forked.

As each lamination I61 is punched it is forced upwardly into the outersleeve I56, the punch producing the teeth on the pinion lamination andthe punch I65 producing the shaft hole. The operator operates the pressuntil a sufficient number of laminations I61 has been accumulated withinthe die I55 (Figure 11), the inner sleeve I6I rising to permit theaccommodation of these laminations I61. Meanwhile, each descent of themovable support I31 has caused the push rod I16 to move the roller 96and slide 66 to the right against the tension of the coil spring 13(Figure 16), causing the feeding springs 84 to slideloosely over thematerial strip 48, which is then locked against movement to the right bythe action of the pawl 9| as urged thereagainst by the flat spring 92.When the movable support I31 rises after completing a punching stroke,however, the coil spring 13 moves the slide 66 to the left, and thefeeding springs 84 engage and shift the material strip 48 one stroke tothe left as the spring-urged pawl 9Iyields to release the material strip48 (Figure 16). Meanwhile, the staggering action has likewise beenbrought about in response to the descent of the movable support I31 andpush rod I11. At each stroke thereof the reciprocating rod H5 is pusheddownwardly, in the manner previously described, and on its return strokemoves the ratchet I01 in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 1). Thisaction alternately presentseither the top of a stop I05 or interval I06(Figure 14) to the wedge-shaped end I04 of the arm I02, therebystaggering the punchings, in the manner shown in Figure 2.

When a suflicient number of pinion laminations I61 has been accumulatedWithin the die I55 (Figure 11), the operator grasps the handle I93 andshifts it to position B, the staking position. When this occurs the flatspring 204 slips past the end 209 of the handle I93, and into the spaceadjacent the shoulder 2I0, firmly holding the handle I93 in the stakingposition B. At the same time the bellcrank I83 is shifted by the cam I80into the position shown in Figure 5, and comes to rest against the endI8I thereof, so as to urge the shoulder 2I0 against the spring 204.

While this operation is occurring, the upper and lower parts of themachine must be opened far enough for the locking pin 55 to movecompletely out of its socket I10. With the handle I93 in position B, theoperator again operates the press one stroke and causes the movablesupport I31 and die I55 to descend once. In this position the outer andinner cam ridges I50 and I52 (Figure 12) are in engagement with the endsof the upper portion I 59 of the inner sleeve I6 I but bridging theupper end I64 of the punch I66.

The die I55 is now positioneddirectly over and coaxial with the shaftholder I6 (Figure 3), so that upon the descent of the die the pinionshaft 2 I5 is forced through the holes in the pinion laminations I61,into engagement with the lower end of the punch I66, which movesupwardly to permit the entry of the shaft 2I5. In this manner the pinionlaminations I61 are staked upon the pinion shaft 2I5. During therotation of the head I 43 by the handle I93, however, the push rods I16and I11 have been moved out of the way of the roller 96 andreciprocating rod I I 5, respectively, so thatthe feeding andstaggeringmechanism is not operated. With the return or upward stroke ofthe press platen the upper and lower portions of the machine again openuntil the safety locking pin 55 clears its socket I1I, into which it hasentered as the handle I93 reaches position B.

To eject the assembled pinion from the die I55, the operator now pushesthe push button I98 inwardly, thereby releasing the spring 204 fromengagement with the shoulder 2I0, so that the handle I 93 may be movedto ejecting position C. In this position the stop I13 comes intoengagement with the stop pin I15. During this motion of the head I 43the cam ridges I50, I5I and I 52 simultaneously come into action to movethe punch I66 and the inner sleeve I 6I downwardly (Figure 13) to ejectthe assembled pinion. The operator may now shift the handle I93 back toits position A, through position B, without operating the pushbuttonI98.

The alignment of the upper die I 55 with the lower punch 35 is broughtabout by the stops I12 and I 14 of the spring 204 in engagement with theshoulder 2I0. The safety locking pin 55 is not relied upon for thealignment of the die and punch, but is merely intended to prevent theclosing of the machine in any positions other than the punching positionA and staking position B. This construction insures that the upper andlower portions of the machine are completely open before the shiftinghandle I93 can be moved, thereby avoiding clashing of the die members.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within this inventionsuch modifications as come within the scope of the claims and theinvention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what isclaimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pinion-making machine, a punch, a punch member and a cooperatingdie member having tooth-producing portions for punching out a pinionblank, a second punch member asso-' ciated with one of saidpreviously-mentioned members, and means for actuating said memberssimultaneously for punching out and severing from the material the teethand shaft hole of the pinion blank at a single stroke.

2. In a pinion-making machine, a punch, a punch member and a cooperatingdie member having tooth-producing portions for punching out a pinionblank, a second punch member associated with one of saidpreviously-mentioned members, means for actuating said memberssimultaneously for punching out and severing from the material theteethand shaft hole of the pinion blank at a single stroke, and meansfor feeding a strip of material past said members.

3. In a pinion-making machine, a punch, a punch member and a cooperatingdie member having tooth-producing portions for punching out a pinionblank, a second punch member associated with one of saidpreviously-mentioned members, means for actuating said memberssimultaneously for punching out and severing from the material the teethand shaft hole of the pinion blank at a single stroke, means for feedinga strip of material past said members, and means for moving said striplaterally While feeding it longitudinally, whereby to stagger thepunchings in said strip.

4. In a pinion-making machine, a punch, a punch member and a cooperatingdie member having tooth-producing portions for punching out a pinionblank, a second punch member associated with one of saidpreviously-mentioned members, means for actuating said membersimultaneously for punching out and severing from the material the teethand shaft hole of the pinion blank at a single stroke, and step-by-stepmechanism for simultaneously feeding a strip of material longitudinallypast said members and laterally thereto to stagger the punchings in saidstrip.

5. In a pinion-making machine, a punch, a punch member and a cooperatingdie member having tooth-producing portions for punching out a pinionblank, means associated with said die member for collecting therein astack of punched pinion blanks, a holder for releasably holding a pinionshaft, means for moving said die member and the opposed punch membertemporarily out of alignment relatively toeach other, means for movingsaid shaft holder into alignment with said die member, and means forbringing together said die member and said pinion shaft holder forinserting the pinion shaft in the shaft hole of the stacked pinionblanks within the die member.

6. In a pinion-making machine, a punch, a punch member and a cooperatingdie member having tooth-producing portions for punching out a pinionblank, means associated with said die member for collecting therein astack of punched pinion blanks, a holder for releasably holding a pinionshaft, means for moving said die member and the opposed punch membertemporarily out of alignment relatively to each other, means for movingsaid shaft'holder into alignment with said die member, means forbringing together said die member and saidpinion shaft holder forinserting the pinion shaft in the shaft hole of the stacked pinionblanks within the die member, and mleans for ejecting the thus assembledpinion from the die member.

7. In a pinion-making machine, a punch member and a cooperating diemember having tooth-producing portions for punching out pinion blanks, abase having one of said members mounted thereon, a movable head havingthe other member mounted thereon, a holder for a pinion shaft, means formoving said punch member and said die member out of alignment, and meansfor moving said holder and said die member into alignment, whereby topunch said pinion blanks at one station and insert the pinion shafttherein at another station.

8. In a pinion-making machine, a punch member and a cooperating diemember having toothproducing portions for punching out pinion blanks, abase having one of said members mounted thereon, a movable head havingthe other member mounted thereon, said die member being arranged toreceive a plurality of said pinion blanks in stacked arrangement, meansfor moving said head to move said punch member and said die member outof alignment and means for inserting a pinion shaft in, said pinionblanks While so stacked in said die member.

9. In a pinion-making machine, a punch member and a cooperating diemember having toothproducingportions for punching outpinionblanks, abase, a head movable relatively to said base and having said die membermounted thereon, a holder for a pinion shaft, means for moving said headto move said punch member and said die member out of alignment and meansfor moving said holder and said die member toward each other to insertsaidpinion shaft in: said pinion blank while said blank is in said diemember.

10. In a pinion-making machine, a base, a pinion punch thereon, a headmovable relatively to said base into a plurality of stationa a piniondie on said head adapted to receive a plurality of pinion blanks, meansat one of said stations for supporting a piece of pinion materialbetween said punch and die, means for moving said punch and dierelatively to each other to punch out a pinion blank, and. means atanother station for inserting a pinion shaft in a plurality of blanksheld within said die.

11. In a pinion-making machine, a" base, a

pinion punch thereon, a head movable relatively to said base into aplurality of stations, a. pinion die on said head adapted to receive'aplurality of pinion blanks, means at one of said stations for supportinga piece of pinion material between said punch and die, means for movingsaid'punch and die relatively to each other to punch out a pinion blank,means at another station for in serting a. pinion shaft in' a pluralityof blanks held within said die, and means at a third station forejecting the assembled pinion from the die.

12. In a pinion-making machine, a base, a pinion punch thereon, a headmovable relatively to said base into a plurality of stations, a piniondie on said head adapted to receivea plurality of pinion blanks, meansatone of said stations for supporting a piece of pinion material betweensaid punch and die, means for moving said punch and die relatively toeach otherto punch out a pinion. blank, a second punch within said diefor punching out the shaft hole in the pinion blank, and cam means forcontrolling the operability of said die relatively to said-second punch:

13. In a pinion-making machine, a base, a pinion punch thereon, a headmovable relatively to said base into a plurality of stations, a piniondie on: :said head adapted to receive a plurality of pinion blanks,means at one of said stations for supporting a piece of pinion materialbetween said punch and die, means. for moving said punch and dierelatively to each other to punch out a pinion blank, a second punchwithin said die for punching out the shaft hole in the pinion blank, andcam means for controlling the operability of said die relatively to saidsecond punch, said cam means being operable at one station to hold saiddie and said secondpunch in one posi- 14. In a pinion-making machine, abase, a pinion punch thereon, a head movable relatively to said baseinto a plurality of stations, a pinion die on said head adapted toreceive a plurality of pinion blanks, means at one of said stations forsupporting a piece of pinion material between said punch and die, meansfor moving said punch and die relatively to each other to punch out apinion blank, a second punch within said die for punching out the shafthole in the pinion blank, and cam means for controlling the operabilityof said die relatively to said second punch, said cam means beingoperable at one station to hold said die and said second punch in oneposition for punching out and receiving within said die a plurality ofpinion blanks, operable at a second station to receive a pinion shaftwithin. the shaft hole of said pinion blanks, and operable at a thirdstation to eject the assembled pinion.

15. In a pinion-making machine, a fixed support, a movable support, apinion punch on one of said supports, a compound pinion die on the otherof said supports, and cam means engaging said pinion die for controllingthe operability of the partsthereof, said compound pinion die having anouter die member, an inner punch member and a movable sleevetherebetween.

16. In a pinion-making machine, a fixed support, a movable support, apinion punch on one of said supports, a compound pinion die on the otherof said supports, and cam means engaging said pinion die for controllingthe operability of the parts thereof, said compound pinion die having anouter die member, an inner punch member and a movable sleevetherebetween, said movable support being movable relatively to saidfixed support into a plurality of stations, said cam means beingoperable at one station to hold said inner punch member relatively tosaid die member for simultaneously punching the teeth and shaft hole ofa pinion blank while permitting said sleeve to move relatively to saidmembers for receiving a plurality of pinion blanks within said diemember.

17. In a pinion-making machine, a fixed support, a movable support, apinion punch on one of said supports, a compound pinion die on the otherof said supports, and cam means engaging said pinion die for controllingthe operability of the parts thereof, said compound pinion die having anouter die member, an inner punch member and a movable sleevetherebetween, said movable support being movable relatively to saidfixed support into a plurality of stations, said cam means beingoperable at one station to hold said inner punch member relatively tosaid die member for simultaneously punching the teeth and shaft hole ofa pinion blank while permitting said sleeve to move relatively to saidmembers for receiving a plurality of pinion blanks within said diemember, said cam means being operable at a second station to hold saidsleeve relatively to said die member while permitting the displacementof said inner punch, member for receiving a pinion shaft within thepinion blanks in said die member.

18. In a pinion-making machine, a fixed support, a movable support, apinion punch on one of said supports, a compound pinion die on the otherof said supports, and cam means engaging said pinion die for controllingthe operability of the parts thereof, said compound pinion die having anouter die member, an inner punch member and a movable sleevetherebetween, said movable support being movable relatively to saidfixed support into a plurality of stations, said cam means beingoperable at one station to hold said inner punch member relatively tosaid die member for simultaneously punching the teeth and shaft hole ofa pinion blank while permitting said sleeve to move relatively to saidmembers for receiving a plurality of pinion blanks within said diemember, said cam means being operable at a second station to hold saidsleeve relatively to said die member while permitting 7 the displacementof said inner punch member for receiving a pinion shaft within thepinion blanks in said die member, said cam means being operable at athird station to move both said sleeve and said inner punch memberrelatively to said die member to eject the assembled pinion from saiddie member.

WILLIAM L. HANSEN.

IRA N. HURST.

